EDITORIAL
U.N. suffering deaths in war it didn't support

We join the international community in mourning the loss of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the veteran United Nations special representative to Iraq who was killed yesterday in a bomb attack on Baghdad U.N. headquarters.

Ironically, the 55-year-old Brazilian diplomat and human rights advocate, who is believed to have been the target of the bombing, was committed to bringing an end to the U.S.-led occupation and helping Iraq rebuild its own nation. The U.N. didn't back the war in the first place, but now it has stepped up to help the United States in reconstruction, which makes Vieira de Mello's death even more pointless.

A U.N. employee since 1969, Vieira de Mello started out his career working with refugees, and went on to serve as U.N. special representative to Kosovo and East Timor. At the time of his death, he was just a week away from leaving his Iraq post.

At least 19 others were killed and 100 wounded when a truck driven by a suicide bomber exploded outside the U.N. facility.

Vieira de Mello certainly would not have wanted the bombing to derail international humanitarian and rebuilding efforts. But who can blame U.N. employees for wanting to get the heck out? At the very least, they need better security.

We certainly don't want them to pull out, and urge that the United States give the United Nations all the support and protection it needs to proceed with its peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts.